Past Memorial Tournament Honorees
2024
MICHAEL GORDON FISHER
It's with heavy hearts that we must inform you of an untimely passing of another Kennedy Men's Club brother. We were shocked to learn recently that Mike Fisher, a member from 2018-2022, sadly passed away at the age of 39. We are heartbroken by the news and our thoughts are with his family at this time. Mike was a lover of golf and we know he enjoyed playing in the Kennedy Men's Club. We wanted to share a link to a lovely obituary posted here on Horan & McConaty's website.
2023
James Eck Jr.
James Eck Jr. left us unexpectedly in his home early Monday morning. As most of you know, James was not just a member of the men's club, but was also our Handicap Chairman from 2014-2022. Recently, James began working in the Kennedy Golf Course pro shop and had his sights set on becoming a PGA member with the goal of teaching golf. Words cannot express the grief, shock and sadness that we are feeling about this loss.
During his time as Handicap Chairman, James was instrumental in the creation of the handicap committee, helping transition from USGA handicaps, to club handicaps, to World handicap systems. He also ran our CGA Interclub matches, which last year made it all the way to the quarter finals.
James was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Sterling, Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Gina and their daughter Taylor. He was 55 years old.
George D. Connolly
You didn't have to spend much time around George to realize he was special. Friendly, warm, and always positive, George was a man full of love and spirituality. Many of you may remember his incredible voice, which we were lucky enough to have him share with us at a couple of our banquets. George was a Kennedy Men's Club member for more than 10 years, most recently, serving on the Handicap Committee. A beautiful obituary with details on his wake, funeral, and how you can pay your respects, are all posted on the Horan & McConaty website, which you can read here.
2021
Doug Brower
Born - August 26, 1949
Died - December 3, 2020
Doug Brower, (Browski) a longstanding member of our club from 90's and early 2000's, who recently passed away. For those who knew him he was a joy to play golf with and was a good friend to many of us.
2020
Gregory 'Greg' Cheatwood
Born - August 1, 1947
Died - September 5, 2019
Greg joined the club in 2010 and was an upstanding member for 8 years. He battled cancer with the same grit and determination as he displayed on the golf course, but eventually succumbed to the nasty disease. If you have played with Greg, he had a very unique approach to putting. He mastered putting with an old metal driver. He told me that the gear effect on the driver face helped him make putts. Which in fact was true. When he wanted to change his putter, he would just paint his head a different color. Greg's brother Jim asked that we tell everyone that he is proud that his friends chose to memorialize him in a special way.
James 'Jimmy O' Oatis III
Born - August 25, 1945
Died - November 1, 2019
Jimmy joined the club in 2007 and was a well liked member that brought a lot of character to the club. During his fight with cancer, he was always battling to get on the golf course and be with his friends. Jimmy O was our 2015 Club Champion in the Vice Presidents Flight, something he is immensely proud of. His wife Carol is happy that Jimmy had such great friends, and that she loved being around them as well. In Jimmy O fashion, he told Carol that his favorite spot on the Kennedy Golf course was on top of the hill on the par 3, 6th hole, and that you can see the whole course from there. I told Carol that he meant the 5th hole. HAA She also said that Jimmy did not want any fanfare after his passing. No muss, no fuss. Well, against his wishes, she has purchased a Memorial Bench that has been installed on the course. Look for it on the tee box of the 5th hole.